When lonely artists Ashton and Ria come together, nothing can prepare them for the collision. They're drawn to each other like day and night, but with more in common than they could ever know. After being burned by past lovers, they're hesitant to g...
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"I'M TRYING MY HARDEST not to call you fucking beautiful, but you're making it so damn hard." Ashton shakes his head as his infatuated eyes trace along her entirety. "I don't want you to think that's my catchphrase."
"It's a little late for that." Ria welcomes him into the apartment, sneaking in a brief inspection of with a sheepish look. "You're beautiful as well." As usual, Ashton teases her with the most innocent hint of his chest exposed, the first three buttons of his black shirt released. Half of the button-down is tucked into dark blue jeans while the other half slips from the waist. Though his eyes are what sweep her away. They're brighter than normal. Eager. A goofy smile shapes his lips. Artistic fingers breeze through his hair. Electricity buzzes beneath her skin; hums fill her chest.
"Thanks." He looks down at himself. "It's been a while since I've had to dress for a date."
"Same-ish." She grabs the skirt of her dress and twists the soft fabric around her legs. "I actually feel kind of pretty."
This earns her an eye-roll. "You're more than pretty. You're fu-" He feigns a hard cough and holds his fist over his mouth to hide a smile. "Maybe it'll sound more romantic if I say it in Italian?"
"Sei fottutamente bella."
He squints. "Say fototmento beya?" the words tumble from his tongue.
Ria snorts and a childish giggle bursts from her lips. "That was adorable," she wheezes out. Her shoulders shake and she covers her mouth, trying to control her laughter as flames find his cheeks.
"You're really bruising my confidence over here." The space between them vanishes. Gentle hands find her waist. "I was really trying there."
She giggles and leans into him. "I'm sorry, that was just so cute."
He shakes his head briefly before silencing her laughter with a kiss. She explores the sides of his face and threads her fingers through his hair. "You know," he says between kisses, "you keep describing me with these soft adjectives. It's starting to grow on me."
"Is that so? Well, that didn't take long," she teases.
"Right? Call me sweetheart a few times and I go all soft."
"You were always soft." She runs her thumbs along his strong jaw and loses herself in the reflection of his eyes. "You try to close yourself off, but I can see your sadness. I know you're hiding something. Maybe it has to do with loneliness."
Ashton glances away as if that can conceal his vulnerabilities. "You're dangerous."
She tilts her head to the side with a graceful smirk. "Are you scared?"
"Never. In fact, I'm a bit more dangerous than you think."
Goosebumps tickle her arms. The idea of darkness hiding beneath his sweet exterior ignites her veins. Every time she thinks she's figured him out, he reminds her that there's so much more to discover. She loves it. His enigma. Discovering him through actions instead of words. The more she tastes of his obscurity, the more addictive he becomes.
